The Retelling Story of Igodo - Episode 2

 

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Everyone was quite as Igodo finished his story.

The Igwe cleared his throat and asked "Igodo, there has to be a way you can die. Tell us, is there no other way you can be killed?"

"In all my years of living, I had given up on death" . Igodo replied.

"Igodo, there has to be a way. There has to be something that will put an end to you. I beg you, please to tell us. Umu-Igodo people are dying day by day. There has to be a way to lift up this curse". Odum pleaded. 

"My only answer to you all is, since Ikemefuna is a child of Amadioha, then only Amadioha can kill me". Igodo explained, then he slowly stood up to his feet with the help of a guard and made his way out of the crowd.

The people of Umu-Igodo watched as Igodo left their presence and approaching his hut.

In state of... they all left one after the other to their various home.

Odum has no other option than to carry up his son and left the Igwe with a message. "I will sure get to the root of this

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-retelling-story-of-igodo

. I will bring an end to this curse placed on us by this Ikemefuna. I Odum Ahamuefula will surely remove this curse from Umu-Igodo".

Odum then left the presence of the Igwe to bury his son.

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Odum after burying his son later that evening went straight to Igodo's hut. He saw the old man sitting down on his old raffle mat as he was staring at the moon without interest. He greeted Igodo and sat down on the bare ground, facing Igodo.

"Wise one", Odum began, "Please there has to be a way to stop this curse. Look around you and you will see as the people of Umu-Igodo are dying. Something in my gut tells me you alone carries the answers to our question, tell me what to do my father". Odum said.

"Father? No one has called me that in years. My son, you are right. There is a way out, but the consequence are grave". 

"Then tell me, I am willing to risk it all and save the lives of the innocent people of Umu-Igodo. Tell my father what we must do to break the curse".

"Like I have told you and the villagers earlier on, the only way to break this curse is to kill me". Igodo said.

"Yes, but you told us that there is nothing that can kill you". Odum replied. 

"Indeed I said so. I will tell where you can get what you will use to kill me, but first let me tell you another story and you have to listen very carefully to what I am about to say".

"I will my father".

The words 'My Father' made a smile to grow at the old lips of Igodo. He hasn't heard such a word in a long time.

"When I realize that I was the course of Umu-Igodo predicament I decided to look for a solution and my search led me to Okike, a dibia who had fought with the nine spirits of Oku and lived to tell the tales. I traveled through many villages and forest in search of Okike and eventually I found him by luck, you see my son one thing about Okike is, he never stays in one place for long. Well, luckily for me I found him......."

*Generations Ago*

Dike Igodo found the man he had been looking for in the great forest of the ancestors.  Earlier on, he had met an old man on his way, Dike Igodo helped the old man to carry his raffle mats and bag, unknown to him the old man was the great Okike in disguise. After walking for a while, the old man pretended to be tired and asked for a stop. Dike didn't complain, rather he cleared some part of the bush where the old man will sit, he was about to put the raffle mat on the ground but the old man wave it away.

"Don't worry my son, I have a better way". The old man said and waved his arm on the air, suddenly two wooden stools appeared right in front of Dike.

Dike was shocked and stared at the old man in awe.

"Who are you?" Dike asked the old man.

"I am known as Okike. And I know why you are in search of me. You can sit down on the other stool".

Dike quickly had his seat and stared at Okike, the great dibia.

"I have been watching you ever seen you set you foot on this ancestor's forest. I decided to come to you. I know what brought you to me". Okike spoke his mind. 

"Great one, please tell me how to break the curse placed on me by Ikemefuna?" Dike hurriedly asked.

"Ikemefuna said that only when you die will the curse be lifted, but you and I know that you can't die".

"That is why I need the answers to know what can kill me. I am tried of hearing the cries of Umu-Igodo everyday. I am tired of seeing little children dying. I am tired of seeing our young women turning into a widow. I am tired of seeing mothers watching their sons and daughters die. The great one, please tell me what I must do to stop all this".

"Seven days, they will journey into the ancient forest of the living-dead and come back with the knife of Amadioha. When Ikemefuna died, you and those warriors took his dead body to the evil forest you couldn't find his body, right?"

Dike was speechless, how did the old man know what had happened that faithful day. "Yes great one, we couldn't find his body". 

"You see, Amadioha took his body to the ancient forest of the living-dead and transformed Ikemefuna's body into the knife and only that knife can kill you".

"But great one, there is one thing I don't understand". Dike poured out his confusion. 

"And what is it my son?" Okike asked, he knew what Dike was about to asked.

"You said, seven days they will journey into the ancient forest of the living-dead. Who are they? Does it mean I can't go in search of the knife myself?" Dike asked trying to understand.

"You won't be the one to go and bring back the knife, Amadioha had already chosen who will go but, they're yet to be born.

"What did you mean by they are not yet born? Does it mean they are not in our time?" Dike asked again.

"The chosen ones are not yet been given birth to. They are the children of Amadioha and you can't go and bring the kinife, they will be the one to do so". Okike said.

"But When and how will I know when they are in the world?" Dike asked.

"You don't need to know my son, they will come to you when its time and when they do, bring the Seven people here".

"Here? Why great one?"

"I will be waiting for them to fortify them for the journey ahead. The road to where Ikemefuna  body lay is far dangerous, I can see it".

"Okay, so how long will I wait for them?" Dike asked.

"I can't answer you. All I will say is this, the curse was placed by a child of Amadioha and only a child of Amadioha can bring back the knife. The seven children of Amadioha will come for you, I don't know how but that is what I see". 

"But how will I find you if I bring them here?"

"Find me?" Okike laughed "I will come to you. Don't worry about finding me". No sooner had the words left his mouth he vanished into thin air.

Dike thanked Okike and began his journey back to Umu-Igodo.

He waited and waited for the children of the gods to come. But none came.

At first he saw himself aging and thought that he would die of old age, but alas he was wronged.

A hundred years passed, then two, then, three and lastly the fourth. He felt it. The seven children of Amadioha had been born.

He then await for them to come and strangely enough one of them came to him, Odum.

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Odum heaved a sigh as Igodo finished his story.

"But, where are the remaining six? Will they come?" Odum asked. He was prepared to go to the ancient forest of the dead only him if it was possible.

"I don't know, I am afraid we are going to wait for them. Okike told me that they would come for me and for once I did not doubt his word. The way you came to meet me is the same way the remaining six will come. Just have a little patient child of Amadioha".

"I have heard you my father. I will be on my way now, but I will come and check on you in the morning". Odum told Igodo.

Igodo watches as Odum left.

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In another village, Umu-Dike inhabitant had all gone to sleep expect for one as she silently made her way out of the outskirts of the village.

Uzodinma had heard a voice telling her to go to Umu-Igodo village.

Uzodinma at a very tender age had the gift of seeing things that are about to happen. The villagers gave her all sorts of names, some called her a witch while some said that she was practicing magic.

Read " Deba Ezodo (The Tale Of An African Princess) " by the same author ( Ifeoma Isabella Okeke )

. But for Uzodinma she knew she was gifted.

Uzodinma had once met with Amadioha in her dreams. The god then told her she will be needed in Umu-Igodo soon.

When she woke up and told her parents, they believed her and went to appease the deity to see if he can change his mind towards their daughter, but they were wronged. No one can change the ways of a god.

Soon enough she left her village and started her journey into Umu-Igodo. Amadioha had shown her the road that leads to Umu-Igodo's village.

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Dike Igodo opened his eyes, someone had woken him up from his sleep.

He saw a strange lady staring at him. He had fallen asleep outside his hut.

"Are you Igodo?" The lady asked

"Yes I am Igodo and what is your name my child?"

"I am Uzodinma, I came from the neighbouring village. I was told to come here that I will find you here". Uzodinma said.

"Who told you and if you are not from this village how did you know my name?" Igodo asked.

"Amadioha told me everything I need to know. He told me to come here that I will find you here".

"May Amadioha be praised", Igodo said and continued "Then you know why you are here?"

"Yes". That was Uzodinma short reply.

"You will stay here till you all are completed". Igodo said and pointed into the hut "You can go in".

Uzodinma thanked Igodo and left his presence going towards the hut. For now this will be her new home for as long as the mission last.